I recently went to Akebono for my first time. I had the large sashimi plate and the Akebono roll. The roll was AMAZING! I personally thought it was the perfect amount of fish, crunch, and heat. This roll has spicy tuna in it which I am not usually a very big fun of. But when you put the spicy tuna with the crunch of the shrimp tempura it was a perfect combination. I would definitely recommend this roll. On the other hand, I also had a plate of sashimi. I was impressed with the presentation of this plate but not so much with the quality of the fish. I felt the fish was very tough, almost gristly, and wasn't impressed with how the fish was cut. When I spend $30 for a plate of sashimi I expect to get a premium. I was disappointed. I will be returning though to try out some different rolls! read more

I read the reviews and was thrilled to finally try this place out. I left extremely disappointed, as did my date. To start, we ordered the seared scallop. The dish presentation was nice but the flavor was just okay. It was loaded with some type of mayo sauce. Way too expensive for two small scallops. The soup and salad were probably the best part of the meal. Can't go wrong with miso soup and ginger dressing. I ordered 5 different sushi rolls and tried to switch it up; some cooked; some more raw. The first 3 rolls came out pretty fast. The Trifecta roll was absolutely awful. Tasted like cat food. I couldn't eat more than one piece. The Mulberry roll was good, but the sauce was terrible. The other was a spicy salmon roll; pretty average. The next 2 rolls i ordered didn't come out for some time. We had already finished 2 of our rolls (and refused to eat the other) before the next (Captain Crunch) roll came out. This roll was dry and tasteless. I've ordered this roll at other places and this was just wrong. Maybe they had a substitute sushi chef there, but it was hard to eat. The next 7-9 minutes seemed like an eternity while we waited for our final Fiji roll. I had seen the reviews and this was supposed to be the best. Our waitress was polite and kept telling us it was on the way; but it never came. Finally we told our waitress that we needed to leave. She brought our check with the Fiji roll still on the bill and then brought the roll out a couple minutes later. By this time, we were in a hurry and just left the money and left without touching the roll. I will not be returning. Very disappointed. read more

This place never fails. 10/10 every time. Our servers are always amazing. Seriously probably the best service in Des Moines. Tonight was no exception. Our server Trent was just the right amount of attentive. Everything was done quick, and with a friendly smile. He offered desert which I couldn't turn down and when we told him we wanted it to go he made sure we were sure about that as there was ice cream coming with it. With full tummies (as Akebono always does) we still agreed to the ice cream being boxed up. He not only put the ice cream in a little separate container but also cut the corners of the box to ventilate it. A small gesture that really showed how attentive he really was. Love Akebono. read more

Awesome sushi joint! Great staff and customer service! Nick is my favorite! They have a good selection on their Happy Hour menu!

Ask for Nick for sure! This was our first time in here and we let Nick order for us. From the appetizers to the rolls... we fell in love! Best experience at a restaurant! read more

The service is always fantastic. I wasn't a fan of their gyoza. The flavor and texture are lacking. Their presentation is fantastic. Their sashimi is excellent but I don't much care for anything they use their sushi rice with - I prefer a wetter rice. However, if you prefer a stickier, drier sushi rice this should def be on your list of places to try (which you will likely love). The rice is really just a matter of preference so I'm still giving them 5 stars). Their ambiance is really nice too. All in all a very pleasant place to eat even when it's bustling, which it almost always is. read more

Loved our experience here! As much as I wish my palate was more refined, the Iowa roll was DELICIOUS. Though the poached egg was overcooked, they were happy to correct until our satisfaction. McKenna was attentive and accommodating - we will certainly be back! read more

Came back for the fourth time, and I was really excited. When you're that excited about a place, it can easily not love you too the expectations. I hadn't been in about a year, and have eaten a lot of sushi since then. Akebono did not disappoint. I don't think I wiped the wide grin off my face after the first bite. They are so consistent and absolutely delicious. I really can't say enough about Akebono. read more

If I could rate zero stars I would. Absolutely the worst customer service I've ever received. The hostess was extremely unprofessional and only progressed in a poor manner. The OWNER of the restaurant was quite possibly the most rude person I have ever encountered in the service industry. This is somewhere where I eat very often living downtown Des Moines. The owner was extremely confrontational and couldn't keep his cool. He referred to us as "ratchet" and refused to shake hands with a member of the party who was trying to make amends from an unapparent situation to all. Will absolutely never eat here again. Should absolutely be ashamed of the behavior of a business owner. read more

Sushi options in downtown Des Moines are limited, but that doesn't stop Akebono from pulling out all the stops and letting their creativity run wild. I'm a fan of putting pork on sushi in practice, though in execution I'll stay with the safer options, like the fully-loaded dragon roll. I really enjoyed the ramen, too - the flavorful broth made it delightful to sit and slurp on a Friday night. read more

My coworkers and I are obsessed with this place. We're all addicted to the Rising Sun, but the reason I'm so in love is because of the staff. Stephanie at the hostess stand always remembers us and is amazing about getting us all the little extra things we ask for. She is such a gem and so sweet. Nick has been our waiter multiple times, and he's always my favorite. Today he was completely outstanding; making jokes with us, anticipating our questions before we could even ask, and just all around being great. You've captivated us with your rolls (which I'm pretty sure are laced with addictive properties, because we can't get over them), but your servers are top notch! read more

Amazing food! Right when I walked it I liked the look of it. The soup is amazing and the sushi is amazing. The menu is a little confusing. read more

Akebono 515 - Sushi Bars Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

While quite busy on a Friday night, I found that Akebono 515 was quite a nice sushi restaurant to treat my daughter to on her way back to school. My wife and daughter had several different sushi rolls, while I sampled their delightful ramen soup. I found that the sushi was quite good, though falls short of "excellent". However, I would love to sample the ramen again when I next find myself in Des Moines. The ambiance of Akebono 515 is pleasant, with a modern flair. The staff were quite nice and friendly, willing to answer my many questions and offer suggestions. I must say, despite the odd location I did not expect to find such a fun and delicious sushi restaurant in Des Moines. Quite highly recommended! read more

The food was good but the waiter was the worst. We finished our meal in under 30minutes......appetizer, salad, seaweed salad, soups, sushi....it felt like they just throw the food at you......we came in at 10 pm (close is 11pm) out at 10:30....like a fast food place at 10X the price.....waiter ordered the wrong food then argued that I ordered something that I have never even heard of........obviously the waiter wanted to go home. If you want the worse service in Des Moines....head to this restaurant. Rude rude rude....in fact this is the first and only time I have ever written anything on YELP....so beware....you have been warned! Go across the street.....people much nicer. read more

Amazing food and amazing service. Best sushi in town. If you sit at the sushi bar and mention sake bombs there's a good chance you'll suddenly get some. Sometimes they just send out rounds of sake Bombs for people. So nice and very friendly staff. read more

What a bad service. Average of 40 mminutes to get a drink. They also told us a bottle of wine was on its way and it never made it. Will not come back. read more

Great food and friendly staff 2nd Visit here, traveling for work nice relaxing evening read more

Love this place! They help you order what you have the taste for and they do a great job! Love the sushi. Can't wait to try more.

The last experience was HORRIBLE!!! The sashimi was not fresh at all but they served it anyway...and the plate for sashimi was HOT!!! Can you imagine that! It gonna be kidding me! Then we decided to order the chicken teriyaki, which should be a safe dish and much easier to handle with no fatal mistake, then I was wrong again! It was not teriyaki at all, since there was only chicken breast without skin! Please tell me how to grill the chicken in the pan without the skin! It was plainly teriyaki sauce!!! That experience was so horrible, I don't know what happened to their kitchen and management and of course the waitress was not as helpful as she could have been. read more

I love their food. It's great with no doubt. Their ramen is something to come back for, preferably a little hotter. The chef behind the sushi bar is very nice, he gave us free sake bomb a couple of times. The only time im not happy is when my family decided to come in here at 8 pm. We waited a little bit to be taken care of, but that's fine. They got busy, so we were understanding. The other server that isn't ours told us that our server will be right with us. Our server said sorry for the wait and said it's ok. And here's all when it started. When our server greeted us, he wasn't happy, he seems annoyed when he saw us. Asked if we're ready and took our order. He came back ask us if want the soup or salad. Of course it comes with it. Brought the sushi with no small dish to dip it in. Didn't come back to check on us till were done with our food. The one who's filling up our water did a better job. He didn't even smile the whole time. We all feel not welcome when we came here that time. He talks a lot to his other table and just ignored us. read more

Akebono 515 - @akebono. I think these are scallops on the right. And mixture of seafood stuff in the left. It Tasted good - Sushi Bars Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Visited Iowa last year and was so happy to see the crew back at it again in a new venue. The food as per usual was over the top and the service was on point! If you happen to be in Des Moines this is a definite go to. ET read more

Had the Ramen, it was beef broth and junk noodles, literally it was beef stock out of a can. So far from real Ramen. Wasn't expecting the best but at least some effort. read more

It was average food but it feels like you are packed in there with a 100 other people. It's also super loud in there. I got the bento box. It would be better for lunch than dinner. read more

Came in for dinner tonight and had a perfect experience. The food was delicious, as always. The highlight was finally finding Nick behind the bar. We've missed him there on recent visits. He really makes the place feel like home and adds so much to our night out. read more

My FAVORITE place for sushi in Des Moines. The sushi is always very good quality, extremely flavorful and perfectly rolled. We get the bento boxes almost every time because they are such a good deal! $12 for miso soup, a salad, your choice of salmon, chicken teriyaki, beef, or shrimp tempura, and a 6 piece roll. It's extremely filling! Their Akebono edamame is to die for as well, a spicy garlicky, teriyaki sauce drenched over warm soybeans, SO GOOD I could eat plates of that for the rest of my life. (FYI it's not the biggest location and they only have street parking) read more

Best sushi I've had in Des Moines so far! After having spent the last ten years in Chicago's West Loop I've become quite the restaurant snob :/ Des Moines has some fantastic gems but I've also run into a few spots that were grossly overrated. Not so with this place! Forgot you need change to feed meters downtown (like I said, I'm new here) and ran in to get sushi to go only to have the bartender insist I take money from his tip jar to pay the meter! So sweet. Sat down at lunch time and was enjoying the ambiance. The restaurant has a very open feel to it and the paintings are beautiful, so is the lighting and it wasn't crossed at all. The waitress was very attentive and my rolls came out minutes after the miso soup which basically feel out of the sky the moment I sat down. I had the Fiji roll per the server's recommendation and it did not disappoint. So fresh and savory and the fried tempura was extra crunchy perfection. I had a blueberry mojito that was basically perfect in every way and drank it embarrassingly quickly. I also ordered another roll (the cupid) to go. I asked the chef who was very friendly and talkative what roll would hold up best till dinner and he said he could make pretty much any of them in a way that they would. Got the roll with the intention of waiting till dinner.... yeah. That didn't happen haha but at least I was able to wait to engage in thanksgiving-worthy behavior until I made it to the privacy of my own home! It wasn't easy to drive home with that previous cargo buckled into the seat next to me, begging to be consumed. The roll was sooooo good and I ended up licking the leftover ponzu out of the little to go container (like I said, thanksgiving behavior). The chef, waitress and bartender all made me feel like a rock star, the ambiance is amazing and the sushi is my favorite thus far in Des Moines. I highly recommend this place! I will be back ASAP! read more

When I ate here last weekend, my boyfriend, friend and I were all impressed by the salads, miso soup and the crab puffs, but then waited over an hour for our sushi. After my friend (politely) asked our waiter if our food was coming up soon, I think he realized our order was not actually in. We were provided with extra sushi rolls in addition to our rolls and the chef came to our table and was very apologetic about the slow service and even comped the meal. The wait staff was very attentive after this, and I really think their recovery from the mistake was wonderful and was a testament to their quality customer service. Would most certainly recommend! read more

I am a fan of Akebono, however, I've only had the sushi. The location is nice (across from Django downtown), and the inside is clean and stylish (in a 90's Malibu scene kind of way). I've never had a problem with the service. Sushi and drink options/prices seem pretty standard. I gave this place 4 stars mostly because I think it's hard to find good sushi, and this place has good sushi. Since I haven't tried any other meals, I guess I'll stop there, but my top three of the sushi list for Des Moines. read more

Came in here during a TERRIBLE rainstorm by myself and they were super accommodating. This isn't a particularly up to date place in terms of decor--you can tell a lot of sake-bombing has happened here. However, I had several apps and they were ALL delicious. The seared ahi has such a great rub on it and the garlic dressing was strong but tasty. I also really enjoyed the dumplings and their dipping sauce. There were just too many options on the menu and I wish I had been able to try more. One of the best non-coastal places I have been for Asian food. read more

AMAZING Everything!! I was in Des Moines this weekend for my best friends graduation and we decided to drive up to Des Moines from Ames, Iowa and it was worth the drive to say the least. From the moment we stepped into the restaurant to the moment we left, it was phenomenal service, food and atmosphere. It's been a long time since I have received great service like this. I would have had pictures of the sushi rolls I had but I was so hungry, I forgot to take pictures. Bummer. This dinner was for my bestie and the celebration of her getting her bachelors degree and thanks to everyone at Akebono she felt extra special. I highly recommend this place for anyone who wants to experience what we had the pleasure of experiencing! Next time I am back in Iowa, this will be one of the places that I will have to stop at again! read more

After reading the reviews we decided to give this place a try. It reminded of Taki ( I think that's how's it's spelled) when it opened. The decor is cool and modern. I even recognized a couple of guys that used to work at Taki. We ordered 3 rolls, one was with shrimp tempura. I wasn't impressed. The batter was thick and hard. It looked and tasted like they came from the frozen section. The other 2 rolls were good, i just don't remember what they were called. The appetizer tofu was ok. The wife said it was too soggy. Service was ok ,nothing special. I will try ramen noodle next time. read more

A very good sushi restaurant. Try their Akebono edamame! It's warmed with garlic, butter, and soy sauce. Yum! I like having this as an option in the area rather than Sakari which is extremely overrated in my opinion. This place is good all around, and more times than not they will bring you out a shot or three -- complimentary! read more

Best sushi, best service! After moving here from CA we have not found a sushi restaurant that we love, until tonight. We had an amazing dinner, and Nick was knowledgable, friendly, funny & accommodating. We decided this will be our "go to" restaurant & plan on going back next weekend for dinner! read more

Don't go during happy hour, their sushi are not fresh at all!! We ordered dynamite mussels and they were so dry and overcook. Same thing for Fiji roll, it seems like the tempura has been fried and left out for a long time!. read more

Was I San Francisco a few weeks ago, had tempura and was craving it ever since, came to Akebono and was greatly satisfied. Food was delicious! I will definitely return. read more

Second night in a row. Last night in a bit of a stupor, but food was so good, had to go back. Brought my 11 & 14 year old daughters who agree on nothing. Not only did all of us enjoy the food, but Nick made the experience complete. Helped my daughters making choices, taught them to use chopsticks and was attentive without being intrusive throughout our meal. read more

Great service and food came out quickly. Rolls are on the bigger side but who cares..more food ha! Overall pretty tasty for sushi in the Midwest read more

I sat at the bar as a solo diner and the bartender Nick was so nice! I just moved to Des Moines from a small town and he made me feel so welcomed. The food was delicious too. read more

Have not had bad sushi here yet. This stop is a must when I'm in Des Moines! Would definitely recommend the dragon roll. Mushroom starter is phenomenal read more

This place was packed full which was to be expected at 7:30 pm on a Friday. Luckily I was running late and my friends got a table quickly so I didnt have to wait but there was a line to the door when I arrived. The place was pretty cramped due to a big birthday party (their server had an awesome singing voice haha) happening next to us but they managed to get 6 of us squeezed into a booth! We all love sushi so decided on things pretty quickly, there were a lot of interesting options. Most of us got the salad but one decided on the miso soup which for some reason she though tasted like bacon? She was not pleased but the salads with the ginger dressing were good. I went with the Fargo roll which was absolutely delicious. Everyones rolls looked great and they were decently sized so we could share! Our waitress was excellent and kept our drinks full despite being incredibly busy. I definitely wanna go back and try some of the other rolls but maybe on a slower night! read more

Akebono 515 - Sushi Bars Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa